Dana White blasted the judges and Nevada State Athletic Commission after Georges St-Pierre won a controversial split decision over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 on Saturday night.
Most people had Hendricks winning the fight in a decision 48-47 (three rounds to two), but two judges scored it 48-47 in favor of GSP, while the third had it by that score in favor of Hendricks. The two won Fight of the Night honors, but GSP retained his UFC welterweight title belt.
In his post-event press conference, White blasted the judging of the fight and said the state’s government needs to step in and address the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“I’m blown away that Georges St-Pierre won that fight. Hey listen, I’m a promoter, [St-Pierre’s] the biggest pay-per-view star on the f—ing planet for me, and I still think don’t think he won that fight.
“I want what’s fair, and that wasn’t fair,” White stated.
White turned his attention to the NSAC, which has been questioned following bad decisions in boxing recently.
“I think the Nevada State Athletic Commission is atrocious. I think the governor needs to step in immediately before these guys destroy the sport like they did boxing.
“The governor needs to step in and fix the incompetence that is happening in the state of Nevada that used to be the best commission in the world. It’s absolute 100 percent incompetence and it needs to stop. I’m f—ing scared to come back here and do fights. I’m afraid of this state.”
White has always been consistent in wanting fair outcomes for his product. He knows that having an honest product that fans can trust is extremely important. That’s why he’s so upset — he doesn’t want people thinking fights are fixed. I mean who didn’t think boxing fights were fixed when the same judge who scored Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez a draw also had Timothy Bradley over Manny Pacquiao? White doesn’t want the UFC getting a similar reputation for being fixed the way boxing has.
